Garmin 010-01733-00 Fenix 5X Sapphire - Slate Gray with Black Band

Update : Feb 21, A little over a year of usage: changed to 4 stars as the rubber band is tearing apart at a few punch holes . buying a new band. BTW - the watch did not undergo any extensive water / training - but was used also in the shower. The sapphire is great , holding on very well as well as the watch body. ======================================================================================== Im using This watch for running and HIIT training . Pros: + As a Hebrew user , the Watch has built in Hebrew support. + Battery life is great + Although the big size - it is very comfortable on the hand. + Buttons works very well . and their placement and feel are very well designed. + Sapphire display is a great when the type of activity is Crossfit/HIIT using kettlebells etc. Cons: - User interaction with the clock is done ONLY with buttons on the side - The charging cable is not that comfortable. ( i bought a their party cradle charger which i prefer)

Smart, attractive, dependable, and accurate. I bought this for mountain biking and wilderness exploration. To be absolutely truthful, I thought it might be a little too big, but nope, it fits me perfectly. As a matter of fact, I use it for everything now. Running, sleep, the gym, on trips (it keeps track while youre flying @30k feet), and all things in-between. I never really put much into the data component of my daily routines, but now I have interesting characterization from day to day, and enjoy the watch. When I first decided to purchase a gps watch I took some time to look around and decided Garmin would be what I wanted, because the application was Gps. If you want other things more relegated to daily life responses, and an iterative component, there might be better watches for that, but if you want to know where the hell you are!, this is your watch. I also thought about the smaller version without the map, but after using the map to generalize from a macro perspective while out in the deep brush, Im elated that I didnt. This watch helps me stay the course from reference vector to vector. I have no limitations with where I go and how to get back. Frankly speaking, its the BEST. I count on it.

So i bought this more for hiking and snowboarding purposes (as well as the gym), but mainly because of the map feature on here. I have yet to try it out snowboarding, but myself & my wife did hit a few of the national parks in Utah recently and I found it brilliant. Firstly we had been hiking in one of the canyons around capital reef national park, Utah, and we had ventured off our trail and I was able to use the Back to Start function to get us back to our car, and it worked a treat. It did tell me a few times that i was off course, but that was because i was a few feet away from the exact path i took or i was taking a small short cut. Also, in the Canyon, especially when it got narrow, i did lose the GPS signal, but it quickly came back. People do mention the battery life, and i have to agree it was brilliant. After coming from a fitbit blaze when i had to charge every 2nd /3rd day, this shines head & shoulders above. As i mentioned earlier i took this on a hiking trip, i had hit 3 national parks for 3 days straight using the GPS function on each of my 5-6hr hikes. Little did i realize when i left for my trip was, that i forgot the charging cable. So 3 hrs into my final days hiking (and after hiking approximately 12hrs in the last 2 days), the watch told me i was running low on battery. At this point i switched off the hiking activity so it would be on the watch mode, then soon after, the power saving function kicked in. At this point my fitbit would have been getting ready to switch off completely, but not this guy. I had 3hrs of a hike left and 2 days before i arrived home from my trip, where this could be reunited with the charging cable, and guess what, by the time i arrived home 2 days later this was still going. I may have had only 3% battery life left, but after 15 hrs of hiking, with the GPS maps going, and wearing the watch for 6 days, i think that this is good going. This may be expensive, but personally, functions like the GPS (which doesnt need a phone signal) and the back to start function, if running, hiking, biking, skiing or snowboarding will be beneficial for outdoor people everywhere. I will go as far to say that i think this may even be life saving if you are the type of person who has got lost on trails before. One thing to keep in mind for those who have a partner with the similar frame of mind as my wife, she figured this to be similar a GPS for your car and cant understand why i spent so much money on something like this if you cant use it like your car or phone GPS. With so much functions packed into this, who knows maybe it can do that on here, but if i want a GPS for my car, i will use my phone or car GPS. In conclusion, this is packed full of functions i havent even discovered yet. I love the battery life, the map, the fact its waterproof and load of other activities it has on here for the things like the gym, and as an outdoors individual i see it as a worth while investment.

I have not had previous smart watch to compare the Fenix against. I had a couple low priced fitness bands that were not really that useful. I have been resumed triathlon training and this watch if really good. I was last training in the Timex Ironman watch time period. I would say the Swim external HR strap is a must have for accurate work out logging. The external HR strap is essentially flawless, event the temporary storage of data while the watch is submerged. The running dynamics analysis is not necessarily actionable information for me, but it is some what interesting. Rowing, running, swimming I had really no good HR data from the wrist based function. Walking and sleep recordings seem to the limit of wrist based readings. I do not use much of the technology in the watch regarding notifications, messaging but assume they would work well. The time to charge is the best of my previous 3 exercise bands. The watch is rugged with the sapphire face. The size is a little larger than I would prefer, but for mapping functions on runs in different locales it seems to be a good trade off. The computer and watch software works well for my needs and automatically updates my work place exercise logging for quarterly cash program. After the research and ultimate choice of watch, I have no regrets about this device.

Ive owned about a half a dozen fitness trackers, my last one being the Garmin Fenix 3hr. I recently purchased the Fenix 5X and it is loaded with more sensors and capabilities than I would ever use, but theyre nice to have just in case; I like options. Heart rate sensor is probably the best Ive used, GPS tracking is about average, but what puts this device over the top are the TOPO maps built into the watch, its awesome. Fortunately for me my F3hr came with a titanium band that actually fits the F5X, its easier to take off and on and change wrist if needed, plus its very light. The watchface options are a little thin right now, but that will change with time, since the F5X has just been released. Ive been looking for the perfect smart/fitness tracker watch to replace my 30 year old Jules Jergenson everyday watch and I think I found it. Of course with technology advancing as fast as it is, the F5X might be obsolete in just a few years and probably wont last as long as my JJ watch, lol. Garmin has finally released a nice fitness watch that actually is worth the investment and it looks like it will be durable and flexible enough to last several years and still be useful. If you can swing the price, I say go for it.

I have been using Garmin for several years now to track my running (road and Trail), cycling (road and mtb) and swimming (pool and open water). I debated long and hard about going to the Fenix 5x and compared to the latest comparable Suunto products and other Garmin products (935), but in the end decided to stay with Garmin and the Fenix. I’ve had the forerunner 310 and 920 and found them solid and reliable. The only real issues I’ve had were operator created issues...if Garmin could just read my mind that would be great so tracking could start when I forget. 1 week into using the Fenix and I really am impressed with the Fenix. I’ve had it outside running, on the treadmill, in the pool and tracking my indoor bike training sessions...there has been a slight learning curve, but I have been able to jump right in and use the Fenix and it has performed flawlessly. One of the benefits of getting the Fenix 5x a year after its launch is that many of the bugs and issues I saw others report seem to be worked out. GPS picks up incredibly fast and tracking has been accurate. It is heavier than my 920 which I’m adapting to. I was also worried about the screen resolution, but so far I have found it clear and easy to read. I have used some screen faces and custom fields that were too small for me to see comfortably, but I just switch to something more friendly to my eye sight. I will likely provide another update after using the Fenix 5x for the next few months of a busy race (run and Tri) season.

This incredible new watch from Garmin allows you to leave your phone in your pocket, or even at home. It has the functionality of the Apple & Moto Watches, but also much, much more! Lets start with the least important feature (to me), its attractiveness and comfort. Someone confused mine with a Bell & Ross (think fancy watch). It is substantial in feeling, but still light weight and unobtrusive when you play sports. The band is waterproof, and you can easily find your fit since there are narrowly spaced notches. As for functionality, it has everything you would want in a watch to track your activities. It will track your running (road, trail, track or treadmill), hiking, climbing (of course it tracks your altitude), swimming, cycling, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, rowing (indoor or outdoor), golf, and even stand up paddle boarding! Are there any other sports one would like to track their activity level??? Just leave your bulky, distracting phone at home! Also, it seamlessly connects to your smartphone and provides weather, alerts (messages, important emails, or any other alerts you set), controls your music, and can even find your phone. All those above so you dont have to pick up your phone during that meeting, movie, or any other event that requires all (ok, nothing requires all, most!) of your attention! You can even check what time it is without putting your phone in your hands and giving yourself the temptation to open it and its many treasures inside. Imagine, interacting with friends, business associates, family members as if you are giving them your fullest attention ... little do they know, about your tricky little friend, the Garmin Fenix 5x!

Ive had the Fenix 5X for a week now. I like everything about it so far, except for a couple of minor issues. The watch have, buttons, and band are all amazing. Specifically, the band is ever better than I expected. However, Im not sure how it would do in prolonged exposure to high heat or salt water or chemicalized water - because its not stock metal - its a flexible silicone. I also like the ease of how you can change the Quick Fit Band, but Im curious to see how much punishment it can take. One thing I absolutely dislike, is the inability to see the watch face in low light. You have to have some sort of external light source, or use the backlight. In a tactical/survival situation, those would both be unlikely options. I understand that it is likely due to battery life, but seeing that they have other After Sunset options, I would think they would put more emphasis on visibility in low light/at night. I like the sensors and how you can use the app to check your stats, but Ive found that the altimeter isnt consistently accurate. It also has alot of trouble calibrating inside houses/buildings, so you have to be outside and not near any obstructions. Im also curious to see how the watch functions without the paired phone within range, because I would imagine that using this on runs, hikes, or in the pool at the gym would require disconnection from your phone. It does seem to continue to keep time at least, so thats a minimum necessity met. If I were to pay $600 for this, Im not sure Id be as happy with it - but I got it for $380, so Im really satisfied with the value for what I paid. I do think youll want an extra charger and the inserts for the charge port, as well as a spare band, but those arent crucial. Overall, very happy with this and excited I took the chance - it has been a great buy!

I purchased the Fenix 5S Sapphire - Champagne. The watch is solid and well built. Setup if you take a little time and read the instructions is easy. I spent about 15 min with the instructions and had it all set up on WiFi, connected to Garmin Connect and Note5 phone. That also included the Screen protector, and most of the screen setups. My technical level is above average but setup is easy if you follow the instructions. Battery life is good. With GPS used about 4-6hrs/week and wearing it 24/7 battery will last about 1 week. I have found that I can charge it a couple days a week while driving to and from work (~30min each way) will keep it charged or about 2hrs once a week. A typically 2hr long run with GPS will drain battery about 10%. Typically day without GPS 3-4%. Data from watch is great. Especially if you have the HRM to pair with it. I have used it for Running, Treadmill Running, Biking, and Pool Swimming. Running tracks the same as my Garmin 310XT did but with a lot more data., Treadmill Running after 6mi was .09mi off of treadmill. I had to run 6.09mi on treadmill to reach 6mi. on watch. Biking is same as 310XT. Pool swimming is nice as you tell it what length of pool you are swimming in and it will keep track of how many laps you do and how far you swim. Automatically connects with WiFi when I come in to range of home network and same with Bluetooth for phone. Watch bands swap easily and stay firmly attached. I like the metal band for dress and silicone band for work and exercise. Both very comfortable to wear. For smaller wrists the 5S fits very nicely and is slightly larger than my Citizen watch and lighter. Counting Steps is not always very accurate. If exercise app is running it seems very accurate, however, if you are just walking around depending on if you are pushing something, swinging your arms, carrying something or standing and moving your arms then may or may not be very accurate. One area I have noticed accuracy to be low is in the shower. Typical shower will yield about 400 steps that I do not take. I have not measured how many extra or missed steps with other activities yet. It does seem to track similar to most other step counting devices like fitbit, Jawbone, and other smart watches. The more you use it the more it starts to give better information on VO2, Lactate Threshold, Training Effect, and Training status. Some of them require the chest strap HRV Stress does require Chest Strap as does Lactate Threshold. Step goal adjusts based on how many steps a day you take. It will adjust it up or down accordingly. Bottom line if you are looking for a sports watch that you can also wear as a smart watch and have it look like a nice watch then this is for you. Yes it is expensive, and it does lack some smart functionality that Apple and Samsung have but for sports it is top notch. I believe that garmin will add more functionality to smart notifications over time. This watch is a sports watch first and smart watch second. Hands down it is the best sports watch on the market and paired with the HRM it will give you more than enough data to help you improve in just about any sport.

I love this watch